RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

So where might you be travelling?

Misty in Myanmar: Since the release of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2010, Burma, as it is also known, has opened up

Asia

Burma looks set to pique even more interest next year - and 2013 might well be the year to go before the crowds arrive. Fifty new hotels are being built as Myanmar (as Burma is now officially known) prepares to host the sporting festival of the 27th South-East Asian Games in December. Equally, holiday operator itineraries appear to be coming in thick and fast.

Elsewhere, Thomson and First Choice will be offering direct flights to the island of Phuket, Thailand, from November 2013, with passengers travelling on the swish new 787 Dreamliner aircraft. The holiday company claims to be the only tour group with a direct connection to this sun-kissed resort - which means holidaymakers will not have to make the traditional stop in the Thai capital Bangkok.

Beach boom: Sri Lanka's tropical coastline offers a slice of paradise

British Airways will be launching a new route to Colombo, Sri Lanka, in April - which could herald fresh interest in this Indian Ocean island.

TravelMail has noted a number of companies advertising holidays to Sri Lanka's east coast next year. For example, new boutique resort The Beach House opens in this part of the country in February - an area that was distinctly out-of-bounds while the Sri Lankan civil war (which finished in 2009) was raging. With the country edging into a newly peaceful era, this stretch of shoreline, which offers white sands and myriad opportunities for snorkelling, is unlikely to be undersubscribed for much longer.

More of a travel wild card, Seoul danced
onto the world stage this year largely thanks to 'Gangnam Style', the
ludicrously catchy tune by local pop star PSY (which was accompanied by an equally
addictive dance routine). This vibrant city has been mooted as
one of next year's hot destinations. British Airways opened its new
route to the city earlier this month, and the Post Office has reported a
34 per cent increase in sales of the Korean won - which suggests an appetite for exploration.

De-light: Could Seoul be one of next year's must-see destinations?

Daily Mail Deputy Travel Editor Jenny Coad says: 'Seoul is big business, and
with BA's new flight, it will attract tourists who are seeking something a bit
different.

'This
medium-rise city is best visited in spring, when it froths and blooms
- or autumn, when the thick summer air has cleared. You can party here,
shop (stuff is pretty cheap), sample strange flavours and positively
weird textures, and get out and about in a country that offers beaches at
one end and a Cold War experience at the other - along the border with
North Korea.

'There
aren't many other places in the world where you can stand on such an
antagonistic border safely. This is somewhere you will feel justified
in buying the T-shirt.' Read more from Jenny on Seoul here.

South America

The most searched-for travel destination for Britons on Google in 2012 was Rio de Janiero, with ‘Brazil’ dancing into third place. TravelMail tipped the Samba State as a popular choice this year, and we expect 2013 to bring more of the same, as excitement builds in the run up to two major football tournaments - next year’s FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

Then, of course, comes the big one - the 2016 Olympics.

Meanwhile Ecuador has been trending in 2012. In 2013, its capital Quito is due to open a new airport - and the nation's railways have been given a makeover, too. This, of course, is the country that stands as the gateway to the Galapagos Islands - so reasons to go are many.

Colourful city: Famous for its annual carnival, Rio will be a big hit with sports fans in the next few years

Europe

'In times of economic
uncertainty many people put their faith in where they know best.'

So says ABTA, and
early booking figures for summer 2013 suggest that traditional holiday
hotspots will be popular destinations again next year.

Despite its economic woes, Greece is putting in the legwork to draw tourists to its sun-blessed shores - and Turkey is expected to be popular. Spain, the number one holiday destination for Britons this year according to more than one monitor, looks set to be high on the holiday wishlist in 2013 too, along with France, another favourite for UK holidaymakers. Keep an eye out for the French port city of Marseille (which boasts new hotels, art galleries and culinary hotspots) - one of two European capitals of culture in 2013 (alongside the Slovakian city of Kosice).

Finally, Croatia - already a popular choice - will join the European Union next year, putting it in the spotlight. Sales of the country's kuna currency have doubled over the last five years, according to the Post Office.

Over the hump? Could Tunisia be about to regain its holiday crown?

North Africa

The Thomas Cook holiday monitor has predicted Tunisia to be the growth destination of 2013 due to its 'year-round sunshine and low cost of living in resort'.

The North African country has traditionally been a popular destination for Britons - but the 2011 'Jasmine Revolution' had a considerable impact on visitor numbers. Next year, these are expected to increase again, thanks to the country's solid value, golden beaches and ancient history.

The after-shocks of the Arab Spring have largely subsided. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) advises that 'Tunisia is no longer experiencing the widespread unrest that occurred during the events of January 2011, and public order is maintained in most areas.'

However, it also warns that 'all travellers should be aware that spontaneous and unpredictable events such as political and industrial protests...still occur regularly throughout the country.'

Egypt has also been making a concerted effort to lure tourists put off by recent civil unrest, reopening various antiquities - although the FCO still advises against all but essential travel to some parts of the country. However, the River Nile has now been opened up to allow
cruises to operate the whole 600-mile distance from Cairo to Aswan, after a closure of 15 years.

Build up: Londonderry is the only completely walled city in the British Isles

UK

After such a bumper 2012 for Britain, with the Diamond Jubilee and Olympics, 2013 might be hard to top for attention on a world scale. Aside from the patter of tiny royal feet, of course.

January 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of Jane Austen's novel Pride And Prejudice - cue trails taking in everywhere from Hampshire and Bath to Oxford and Derbyshire.

There has also been increased interest in Londonderry. Northern Ireland's second largest city will enjoy centre-stage next year as the UK's inaugural City of Culture - twelve months of events to tempt visitors inside (and beyond) its historic walls.

Fanastical: It's easy to see why New Zealand was chosen as the backdrop to The Lord of the Rings movies

New Zealand

New Zealand received a blow to its tourism industry with the earthquake that struck Christchurch in 2011. But tourism officials are hoping that new movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey will give it a similar injection of interest to that which The Lord of the Rings film trilogy provided. Under the spotlight will be New Zealand's
inspiring natural scenery and reputation for adventure breaks.

The US

Ah America, always popular with Britons. The USA will hit the headlines in 2013 thanks to a slew of films and anniversaries. The Great Gatsby, starring Leonard DiCaprio, will put the Roaring Twenties in the frame, along with destinations such as New York and Long Island, where the novel was set (although much of the movie was shot in Sydney and wider New South Wales).

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, will commemorate 150 years since the famous Civil War battle with events throughout the year.

Dallas is also planning a ceremony to mark 50 years since the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, at the exact time and place where shots rang out on 22 November 1963. And if you already needed an excuse to go to New York, Grand Central Terminal marks 100 years on February 1.

Finally, Florida is marking the state's 500th anniversary of European discovery and exploration. If that is not enough to tempt you, the state's theme parks have plenty of new attractions in store for 2013, from a 3-D ride based on the Transformers movies at Universal's theme park in Orlando to Disney World's Princess Fairytale Hall, where guests can - you guessed it - meet Disney princesses.

And the wild card... Space

Looking up at the stars: This might just be the closest to space most of us get to in 2013

Next year will see space tourism take one giant leap for man, when Sir Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic blasts its first passengers into orbit. While tickets cost around £120,000, some 500 people have already signed up to head for (or, at least, towards) the stars. In a report in the British Medical Journal, GPs were also warned that, one day, patients may ask for cosmic travel health advice.

Blast off!

Cruising

The
popularity of cruising seems to be unstoppable, and 2013 looks set to be
no different.

As finding value for money will still be important to
holidaymakers, cruising - where many voyages are all-inclusive - is an ideal option for cost-conscious travellers.

The
Passenger Shipping Association (PSA) is predicting a growth of more than
two per cent in the number of cruises taken by UK passengers next year –
pushing the figure to a record 1.76 million.

Cruising into 2013: Norwegian Breakaway is one of the eagerly awaited new ships of 2013

And the hassle-free option of boarding a cruise ship
in a UK port is increasing in popularity, along with river cruising.

Says the PSA's Penny Guy: 'The
popularity of cruise holidays comes from the sheer diversity of cruise
itineraries, the ships themselves, the style of cruising and the
unrivalled value for money.'

There will be a number of new ship launches next year. You can read more about these here - but many eyes will certainly be directed towards the Norwegian Breakaway.

'Will
it break the mould? Possibly. The designers have ripped up the rule
book when it comes to cruise ship design - installing three floors of
outward-facing entertainment for the first time. Traditionally,
ships look onwards. So this is definitely one to watch.'

In terms of destinations, Coulter adds
that while the Mediterranean, northern Europe and the Caribbean remain
top hotspots, West Africa and the Azores will become increasingly
popular, with more itineraries launched to these less-seen lands.

He
adds: 'Australia is booming, and has a vast and relatively unknown
coastline [for British travellers]; and I think we will see more adventure cruises to
Antarctica and the Arctic. Plus, Croatia is proving increasingly
popular, particularly it's less-known islands.'

MY VIEW: BY FRANK BARRETT, THE MAIL ON SUNDAY TRAVEL EDITOR

Predicting the travel future: Frank Barrett

Remember the song which goes: 'I get knocked
down but I get up again, you're never going to keep me down…'? **

This could be the national anthem of the travel
industry - which, during 2012, was repeatedly knocked down and then had to drag
itself to its feet again and again.

If it had been a boxing match, by December,
when the Chancellor delivered another haymaker - this time a fresh hike in
airport departure duty- it would have been humane for the referee to have
stopped the match.

Yet now, as we approach the start of a new year,
the holiday business is standing in its corner, battered and bruised, but
confident that when the bell sounds for the new round, it will come out fighting
with hopes that the contest can still be won.

There is no reason to think, however, that the
industry can expect an easier ride in 2013.

National economies are still
suffering and consumer confidence is low. Yet, remarkably, people are still keen
to get away from it all.

In 2013, therefore, expect value-for-money to predominate. Incredibly good value holidays like self-drive
self-catering holidays in France – where you can fill the car with food from
home – are great options.

Cruising continues to offer
outstanding value. Cruises out of the UK, which mean you don't have to run the
gauntlet of UK airport security, will also become more and more popular.

If the pound continues to hold its
own against the US dollar, I expect that Florida will do well. And if Egypt manages to resolve its
political crisis, it can expect the bonus of a big tourist boom.

Anyway, here comes the bell: ding,
ding, seconds out… Round 2013!

** Chumbawamba's 1997 hit Tubthumping. They were the band that tipped a bucket of iced water over John Prescott at the 1998 Brit Awards. Don't remember? Never mind...

Snowsports

Neil English, ski correspondent for The Mail On Sunday, writes:

Early snow has fallen in nearly unprecedented amounts over a large swathe of the Alps. Not only that, most of the storms came during sustained cold-temperature phases - meaning that resorts at all altitudes have been able to build up the snow base that is essential for a good start to the season.

Snow hope: Why not discover a less-known ski destination in France or Italy during 2013?

This is great news, as skiers and snowboarders do not have to aim solely for high altitude resorts, which generally come at a higher cost. Val d'Isere and Val Thorens in France, along with Zermatt and Verbier in Switzerland and St Anton or Ischgl in Austria, offer high altitude but also high prices.

The discerning skier will shop around in 2013. There are excellent deals out there in an economically suppressed market place. Instead of France's expensive Trois Vallees, why not explore the wonders of the Portes Du Soleil, a similar-sized ski area linking authentic (ie not purpose-built) resort villages in France and Switzerland?

Look out for small villages like Les Crosets, Champery, Torgon or Morgins - or pay a little more in better known Les Gets, Chatel or Morzine. Wherever you stay in this underrated portion of the Alps, rarely will you pay the tariffs commanded in Meribel or Courchevel.

Or why not try the 'Italian Three Valleys'. This area offers a superb range of pistes for the intermediate and strong skier, inter-linking the lesser known resorts of Champoluc, Gressoney and Alagna. Italy offers the best value for money of all the four mainstream Alpine ski countries.

The smaller resorts at lower altitudes deserve to come into their own this winter. Take a little time to seek out the right deal and you just might find a slice of Alpine culture that has eluded you thus far.